Just a thought from Nylander point of view.
I think he's holding out because he knows he's not in the leafs plans long term, even before the contract negotiations began.
His only leverage to stay a leaf is to get a rich enough contract to make trading him more difficult, or enough to be satisfied being traded to any team long term. He has no rights to ntc or nmc so once he signs any deal with the leafs, he has no control where he goes if the leafs trade him. If the leafs call his bluff and he sits a year, at least he'll be a great closer to Ufa and can spend his time in another league. For the leafs, they need him signed signed for cheap or available as an asset.
Therfore, I think we're at the 11th hour because he wants to stay as a leaf.
My 2 cents
LChoy
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